Dr. Bradley (Brad) Bull, LMFT

Dr. Bradley (Brad) Bull brings a combination of formal study and life experience to his work with individuals and families. He frames family therapy as systemic therapy, emphasizing how family, work, and broader social factors shape how people cope and interact. His training blends academic milestones and hands-on learning. In 2005, at age 40, he completed his PhD in child and family studies with an emphasis in counseling at the University of Tennessee. He also values his time as a client at the student counseling center as a pivotal part of his development as a therapist.

His clinical formation included family therapy training at Good Shepherd Counseling Center under one of Tennessee's early family therapists. Earlier studies began with an undergraduate degree in psychology and a minor in creative writing at Carson-Newman University, followed by seminary training in pastoral counseling and work as an aide at Norton Psychiatric Clinic. Outside of formal training, he often refers to learning from what he calls the school of hard knocks - practical life experiences that inform his clinical perspective.

People describe him as down to earth. Raised as the son of teachers and the grandson of farmers, he has worked in farm and industrial settings, including baling hay, feeding cattle, spending a summer removing steel from a 1500 degree furnace, and operating a forklift. He was also captain of his high school soccer team. When not working, he enjoys riding his bike, watching movies, reading, playing Scrabble, hiking, canoeing, and refinishing furniture. He holds the credential LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, reflecting his focus on relational and systemic concerns.